Written Answers Tuesday 6 December 2005

Scottish Executive

Central Heating

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to improve the delivery of its central heating replacement programme in order to ensure that those who qualify under the programme do not have to wait for periods of up to five months without heating before a new system is installed.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  From the time of application until the installation of the central heating system, the average waiting time is five months. However, many applicants to the programme receive their heating system more quickly. Many householders also require gas connections, electrical upgrades, planning permission or building warrants. Unfortunately, these additional requirements can result in householders waiting five months or more.

  The programme is continually monitored and kept under review to ensure that qualifying householders receive their central heating system as quickly as possible after application.

Children's Services

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has received from the Changing Children’s Services Fund in each year since the inception of the fund.

Robert Brown: Amounts received from the fund in each local authority, covering the period 2001-02 to 2005-06, are included in the following table. For 2004-05 and 2005-06, the previously separate element to support drugs-related activities was mainstreamed within the overall fund. Allocations were made to local authorities to support activities agreed jointly with local partners in the statutory and voluntary sectors.

  Amounts Received from the Changing Children’s Service Fund by Local Authority

  

 Local Authority 
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Source of Funding
 CCSF Drugs Strand £
 Total (Inc. Drugs Strand) £
 Total (Inc. Drugs Strand) £
 Total (Drugs Strand Amalgamated) £
 Total (Drugs Strand Amalgamated) £


 Aberdeen City
 111,000
 1,039,000
 1,563,000
 1,951,000
 2,038,000


 Aberdeenshire
 122,310
 1,307,168
 1,972,215
 2,516,000
 2,758,000


 Angus
 61,000
 649,960
 958,039
 1,207,000
 1,303,000


 Argyll and Bute
 57,000
 549,000
 827,000
 1,038,000
 1,161,000


 Clackmannanshire
 29,584
 334,064
 481,351
 577,000
 629,000


 Dumfries and Galloway
 91,420
 991,894
 1,439,686
 1,824,000
 1,986,000


 Dundee City
 162,000
 1,155,000
 1,728,000
 2,040,000
 2,204,000


 East Ayrshire
 113,000
 845,000
 1,266,000
 1,513,000
 1,639,000


 East Dunbartonshire
 35,000
 395,000
 596,000
 768,000
 886,000


 East Lothian
 66,500
 487,000
 707,000
 915,000
 1,035,000


 East Renfrewshire
 30,988
 346,000
 521,944
 672,000
 789,000


 Edinburgh, City of
 268,000
 2,372,000
 3,560,745
 4,405,000
 4,727,000


 Eilean Siar
 30,000
 203,000
 296,000
 389,000
 407,000


 Falkirk
 60,000
 863,000
 1,232,000
 1,542,000
 1,702,000


 Fife
 223,400
 2,050,000
 3,083,000
 3,836,000
 4,259,000


 Glasgow City
 861,000
 5,789,000
 8,640,000
 10,056,000
 10,438,000


 Highland
 149,166
 1,453,000
 2,161,189
 2,739,000
 2,927,000


 Inverclyde
 83,000
 602,653
 905,000
 1,083,000
 1,179,000


 Midlothian
 44,500
 453,000
 682,000
 852,000
 981,000


 Moray
 43,351
 477,000
 719,000
 910,000
 977,000


 North Ayrshire
 140,000
 1,034,000
 1,476,000
 1,844,000
 1,990,000


 North Lanarkshire
 162,000
 2,189,000
 3,276,000
 3,914,000
 4,306,000


 Orkney Islands
 21,000
 150,500
 213,500
 261,000
 279,000


 Perth and Kinross
 76,000
 752,000
 1,133,000
 1,429,000
 1,572,000


 Renfrewshire
 152,000
 1,157,000
 1,655,000
 2,079,000
 2,236,000


 Scottish Borders
 61,000
 605,968
 912,537
 1,154,000
 1,269,000


 Shetland Islands
 30,000
 178,000
 257,000
 332,000
 354,000


 South Ayrshire
 64,000
 611,000
 919,000
 1,151,000
 1,229,000


 South Lanarkshire
 196,000
 1,809,000
 2,641,000
 3,390,000
 3,680,000


 Stirling
 52,000
 494,000
 743,000
 932,000
 1,042,000


 West Dunbartonshire
 113,000
 802,000
 1,200,000
 1,417,000
 1,481,000


 West Lothian
 89,000
 968,628
 1,400,950
 1,764,000
 2,038,000


 Total
 3,798,219
 33,112,835
 49,166,156
 60,500,000
 65,501,000

Children's Services

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority has received per head of population from the Changing Children’s Services Fund in each year since the inception of the fund.

Robert Brown: The information requested is detailed in the following table. As the fund is directed at services for children (0 - 18) the table also includes details per head of population 0 - 18.

  

 Local Authority
 Amount per head population (MYE 2002) 2001-02
 Amount per head population (0 - 18) (MYE 2002) 
2001-02
 Amount per head population (MYE 2003) 2002-03
 Amount per head population (0 - 18) (MYE 2003) 2002-03
 Amount per head population (MYE 2004) 2003-04
 Amount per head population (0 - 18) (MYE 2004) 2003-04


 Aberdeen City
£0.53
£2.69
£5.03
£25.56
£7.68
£39.25


 Aberdeenshire
£0.54
£2.19
£5.70
£23.46
£8.47
£35.28


 Angus
£0.56
£2.51
£6.05
£27.02
£8.82
£39.78


 Argyll and Bute
£0.63
£2.85
£6.01
£27.73
£9.07
£41.92


 Clackmannanshire
£0.62
£2.53
£7.01
£29.22
£9.98
£42.19


 Dumfries and Galloway
£0.62
£2.82
£6.74
£30.99
£9.73
£45.36


 Dundee City
£1.12
£5.24
£8.07
£37.40
£12.18
£57.03


 East Ayrshire
£0.94
£4.04
£7.07
£30.37
£10.57
£45.68


 East Dunbartonshire
£0.33
£1.36
£3.69
£15.47
£5.59
£23.79


 East Lothian
£0.73
£3.03
£5.35
£22.30
£7.72
£32.27


 East Renfrewshire
£0.35
£1.37
£3.86
£15.39
£5.82
£23.38


 Edinburgh, City of
£0.60
£3.08
£5.29
£27.44
£7.85
£41.05


 Eilean Siar
£1.15
£5.17
£7.78
£35.02
£11.27
£51.15


 Falkirk
£0.41
£1.80
£5.91
£25.88
£8.35
£36.70


 Fife
£0.64
£2.75
£5.82
£25.45
£8.69
£38.26


 Glasgow City
£1.49
£6.82
£10.03
£46.32
£14.96
£70.28


 Highland
£0.72
£3.12
£6.95
£30.64
£10.23
£45.54


 Inverclyde
£0.99
£4.29
£7.26
£31.73
£10.98
£48.55


 Midlothian
£0.55
£2.26
£5.68
£23.36
£8.57
£35.53


 Moray
£0.50
£2.13
£5.45
£23.31
£8.20
£35.40


 North Ayrshire
£1.03
£4.37
£7.60
£32.31
£10.85
£46.68


 North Lanarkshire
£0.50
£2.08
£6.80
£28.18
£10.15
£42.46


 Orkney Islands
£1.09
£4.69
£7.79
£33.97
£10.95
£48.24


 Perth and Kinross
£0.56
£2.51
£5.53
£24.95
£8.24
£37.39


 Renfrewshire.
£0.88
£3.85
£6.77
£29.80
£9.70
£43.00


 Scottish Borders
£0.57
£2.57
£5.60
£25.37
£8.35
£38.00


 Shetland Islands
£1.37
£5.40
£8.14
£32.44
£11.71
£47.23


 South Ayrshire
£0.57
£2.66
£5.48
£25.79
£8.22
£39.19


 South Lanarkshire
£0.65
£2.77
£5.97
£25.76
£8.65
£37.77


 Stirling
£0.60
£2.59
£5.72
£24.30
£8.60
£36.96


 West Dunbartonshire
£1.22
£5.14
£8.69
£37.04
£13.05
£56.69


 West Lothian
£0.56
£2.18
£6.02
£23.72
£8.60
£34.12



  

 Local Authority
 Amount per head population (2005 Projection (2002 based)) 2004-05
 Amount per head population (0 - 18)(2005 Projection (2002 based)) 2004-05
 Amount per head population (2006 Projection (2002 based)) 2005-06
 Amount per head population (0 - 18) (2006 Projection (2002 based)) 2005-06


 Aberdeen City
£9.54
£49.61
£10.04
£52.71


 Aberdeenshire
£11.06
£46.29
£12.12
£51.44


 Angus
£11.33
£51.77
£12.29
£56.80


 Argyll and Bute
£11.48
£54.74
£12.85
£62.54


 Clackmannanshire
£12.14
£50.64
£13.27
£56.08


 Dumfries and Galloway
£12.52
£59.40
£13.69
£66.33


 Dundee City
£14.59
£70.66
£15.91
£78.23


 East Ayrshire
£12.82
£56.49
£13.95
£62.46


 East Dunbartonshire
£7.24
£31.47
£8.39
£36.99


 East Lothian
£9.89
£41.67
£11.11
£47.45


 East Renfrewshire
£7.42
£30.33
£8.69
£35.96


 Edinburgh, City of
£9.79
£52.01
£10.49
£56.42


 Eilean Siar
£15.33
£71.45
£16.21
£76.63


 Falkirk
£10.53
£46.81
£11.59
£51.94


 Fife
£10.91
£48.79
£12.10
£54.94


 Glasgow City
£17.67
£83.94
£18.44
£88.88


 Highland
£13.22
£59.45
£14.15
£64.61


 Inverclyde
£13.25
£59.02
£14.53
£65.44


 Midlothian
£10.48
£43.61
£12.02
£50.37


 Moray
£10.63
£46.32
£11.47
£50.68


 North Ayrshire
£13.75
£60.16
£14.90
£66.20


 North Lanarkshire
£12.22
£51.60
£13.46
£57.36


 Orkney Islands
£13.83
£61.14
£14.86
£66.71


 Perth and Kinross
£10.52
£47.83
£11.56
£53.12


 Renfrewshire.
£12.27
£54.55
£13.27
£59.68


 Scottish Borders
£10.68
£48.99
£11.73
£54.32


 Shetland Islands
£15.16
£61.70
£16.15
£66.88


 South Ayrshire
£10.43
£49.99
£11.18
£54.26


 South Lanarkshire
£11.26
£49.84
£12.24
£54.81


 Stirling
£10.67
£47.58
£11.86
£53.50


 West Dunbartonshire
£15.54
£68.39
£16.33
£72.73


 West Lothian
£10.73
£43.18
£12.29
£50.09



  Source of population statistics General Registry Office.

  Note: MYE – Published Mid-Year Estimates.

Children's Services

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority will receive from the Changing Children’s Services Fund in 2006-07.

Robert Brown: The information requested is provided in the following table. The formula for distributing the part of the fund within Grant Aided Expenditure is the subject of discussion with COSLA and the Local Government Three Year Settlement Group. These allocations should, therefore, be regarded as provisional.

  

 Local Authority Area
 2006-07


 Ring-Fenced £
 GAE (£)
 Total (£)


 Aberdeen City
 1,550,000
 482,000
 2,032,000


 Aberdeenshire
 2,183,000
 706,000
 2,889,000


 Angus
 1,033,000
 299,000
 1,332,000


 Argyll and Bute
 942,000
 270,000
 1,212,000


 Clackmannanshire
 509,000
 140,000
 649,000


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1,525,000
 438,000
 1,963,000


 Dundee City
 1,548,000
 408,000
 1,956,000


 East Ayrshire
 1,263,000
 348,000
 1,611,000


 East Dunbartonshire
 724,000
 234,000
 958,000


 East Lothian
 819,000
 251,000
 1,070,000


 East Renfrewshire
 634,000
 209,000
 843,000


 Edinburgh, City of
 3,441,000
 1,102,000
 4,543,000


 Eilean Siar
 308,000
 94,000
 402,000


 Falkirk
 1,345,000
 402,000
 1,747,000


 Fife
 3,314,000
 1,018,000
 4,332,000


 Glasgow City
 7,650,000
 2,268,000
 9,918,000


 Highland
 2,322,000
 685,000
 3,007,000


 Inverclyde
 919,000
 244,000
 1,163,000


 Midlothian
 786,000
 224,000
 1,010,000


 Moray
 762,000
 239,000
 1,001,000


 North Ayrshire
 1,555,000
 411,000
 1,966,000


 North Lanarkshire
 3,494,000
 1,038,000
 4,532,000


 Orkney Islands
 206,000
 67,000
 273,000


 Perth and Kinross
 1,265,000
 384,000
 1,649,000


 Renfrewshire
 1,685,000
 472,000
 2,157,000


 Scottish Borders
 992,000
 312,000
 1,304,000


 Shetland Islands
 275,000
 91,000
 366,000


 South Ayrshire
 977,000
 275,000
 1,252,000


 South Lanarkshire
 2,950,000
 881,000
 3,831,000


 Stirling
 798,000
 245,000
 1,043,000


 West Dunbartonshire
 1,081,000
 276,000
 1,357,000


 West Lothian
 1,645,000
 486,000
 2,131,000


 Total
 50,500
 15,000
 65,500,000

Children’s Services

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority will receive per head of population from the Changing Children’s Services Fund (CCSF) in 2006-07.

Robert Brown: The information requested is provided in the following table. As the fund is directed at services for children (0 - 18) figures are included for amounts received by each local authority area per head of population 0 - 18. The information is based on provisional allocations for 2006-07 since the distribution formula for the proportion of the fund within Grant Aided Expenditure is being discussed with COSLA and the Local Government Three Year Settlement Group.

  CCSF Allocations for 2006-07 Per Head of Population by Local Authority.

  

 Local Authority 
 Amount Per Head Population (2007 Projection (2002 based)) 2006-07
 Amount Per Head Population (0 - 18) (2007 Projection (2002 Based)) 2006-07


 Aberdeen City
£10.09
£53.61


 Aberdeenshire
£12.70
£54.71


 Angus
£12.63
£58.95


 Argyll and Bute
£13.44
£66.89


 Clackmannanshire
£13.73
£58.85


 Dumfries and Galloway
£13.58
£67.41


 Dundee City
£14.26
£71.22


 East Ayrshire
£13.78
£62.66


 East Dunbartonshire
£9.10
£40.84


 East Lothian
£11.40
£49.33


 East Renfrewshire
£9.25
£38.70


 Edinburgh, City of
£10.07
£54.90


 Eilean Siar
£16.17
£77.94


 Falkirk
£11.87
£53.80


 Fife
£12.29
£56.72


 Glasgow City
£17.60
£86.02


 Highland
£14.57
£67.47


 Inverclyde
£14.44
£65.98


 Midlothian
£12.33
£52.26


 Moray
£11.81
£52.99


 North Ayrshire
£14.78
£67.07


 North Lanarkshire
£14.19
£61.05


 Orkney Islands
£14.63
£66.99


 Perth and Kinross
£12.11
£56.26


 Renfrewshire.
£12.86
£58.51


 Scottish Borders
£12.03
£56.46


 Shetland Islands
£16.68
£70.17


 South Ayrshire
£11.43
£56.17


 South Lanarkshire
£12.77
£57.97


 Stirling
£11.81
£54.16


 West Dunbartonshire
£15.04
£68.12


 West Lothian
£12.73
£52.51



  Source: Population statistics GRO.

  Note: Population figures for 2007 - 2002 based projections.

Cities

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each eligible local authority received from the Cities Growth Fund in each year since the inception of the fund.

Mr Tom McCabe: Allocations under the Cities Growth Fund in each year since inception are given in the following table:

  

 Councils
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
Total(£ Million)


 Aberdeen City
 2.556
 3.833
 5.111
 11.500


 Dundee City
 2.067
 3.100
 4.133
 9.300


 City of Edinburgh
 5.378
 8.067
 10.755
 24.200


 Glasgow City
 8.889
 13.333
 17.878
 40.100


 Highland (Inverness)
 0.689
 1.033
 1.378
 3.100


 Stirling
 0.422
 0.633
 0.845
 1.900


 Total
 10.067
 20.158
 16.048
 90.100

Cities

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each eligible local authority received per head of population from the Cities Growth Fund in each year since the inception of the fund.

Mr Tom McCabe: Allocations under the Cities Growth Fund in each year since inception, broken down per head of population, are given in the following table:

  

 
 Aberdeen City
 Dundee City
 City of Edinburgh
 Glasgow City
 Inverness (city)
 Stirling (city)


 e2003-04
£12.56
£14.57
£11.85
£15.39
£10.35
£10.31


 2004-05
£18.84
£21.85
£17.78
£23.08
£15.52
£15.47


 2005-06 
£25.12
£29.13
£23.71
£30.95
£20.70
£20.65



  Notes:

  1. Amounts per head of population are derived by dividing the amount allocated to each eligible local authority in each year by population estimates.

  2. The population estimates used for the four largest cities are mid-2004 council area population estimates from the General Register Office for Scotland.

  3. As the cities of Inverness and Stirling form part of significantly larger local authority areas, the use of council area population estimates would not be appropriate, and separate mid-2004 estimates are not available. The population estimates used are therefore based on the 2001 census data.

Cities

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each eligible local authority will receive from the Cities Growth Fund in 2006-07.

Mr Tom McCabe: I announced on 8 December 2004 that the provisional allocation from the Cities Growth Fund for 2006-07 is £41 million. The amount available to each eligible local authority is as follows: Aberdeen City £5.292 million; Dundee City £4.208 million; City of Edinburgh £11.195 million; Glasgow City £18.030 million; Highland (for Inverness) £1.407 million, and Stirling £0.868 million.

Cities

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each eligible local authority will receive per head of population from the Cities Growth Fund in 2006-07.

Mr Tom McCabe: The provisional amount allocated to each eligible local authority from the Cities Growth Fund in 2006-07, broken down per head of population, is shown in the following table :

  

 City
 Provisional Allocation
 Amount per Head of Population


 (£ Million)


 Aberdeen 
 5.292
£26.01


 Dundee 
 4.208
£29.66


 Edinburgh
 11.195
£24.68


 Glasgow 
 18.030
£31.21


 Inverness
 1.407
£21.13


 Stirling
 0.868
£21.21


 Total
 41.000
 



  Notes:

  1. Amounts per head of population are derived by dividing the amount allocated to each eligible local authority in each year by population estimates.

  2. The population estimates used for the four largest cities are mid-2004 council area population estimates from the General Register Office for Scotland.

  3. As the cities of Inverness and Stirling form part of significantly larger local authority areas covering large areas of rural Scotland, the use of council area population estimates would not be appropriate, and separate mid-2004 estimates are not available. The population estimates used are therefore based on the 2001 census data.

Coast Protection

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action will be taken, and associated funding provided, to repair coastal erosion in the Middle District of South Uist in order to provide long-term community and environmental stability.

Rhona Brankin: Primary responsibility for preventing erosion of land by the sea lies with the landowner. However, local authorities have discretionary powers to take forward coast protection schemes to prevent erosion of land. The Executive has produced guidance for local authorities which suggests that they consider the preparation of shoreline management plans to help identify vulnerable areas and the appropriate response.

  We have also substantially increased the funds available to local authorities for coast protection and flood prevention schemes to £89 million over the period 2005 to 2008. Officials from the Executive have had constructive discussions with the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar about the funding available for coast protection measures, and are now waiting for it to come forward with a suitable scheme to take up the available resources.

Coast Protection

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Natural Heritage’s guide to managing coastal erosion in beach and dune systems and emergency reports produced following the disaster in the Western Isles in January 2005 will lead to the early publication of a costed recovery plan for protecting low level roads and providing escape for any future build-up of water pressure on inter-island causeways.

Rhona Brankin: Scottish Natural Heritage’s guidance reviews the options available to local authorities for managing coastal erosion, and it is for the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (CnES) to consider the best approach for the Western Isles. Officials from the Executive have had constructive discussions with the Comhairle about the funding available for coast protection measures, and are now waiting for the Comhairle to come forward with proposals that meet the criteria for funding. Improvements to local roads are the responsibility of the Comhairle as the local roads authority. While we have no current plans to add to the additional £4.5 million grant we made to enable CnES to repair the damage to the Eriskay Breakwater and the North Ford Causeway we are monitoring progress on these projects and, in the event of any underspend on the completion of the two projects, the Minister for Transport would be content to see this allocated towards any betterment in related transport infrastructure.

Community Centres

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when current funding for the Local Capital Grants Scheme for Community Facilities will end and whether it will be renewed or replaced with a new scheme that offers grants for community facilities.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive will continue to fund projects approved in the final round of the Scottish Rural Partnership Fund (SRPF), but we have no plans at present to expand or replace this programme.

  In 2004, a review and full consultation exercise was carried out on the SRPF. We are considering the outcome of that review and the fit of the SRPF in the context of our wider rural policy and range of support mechanisms. An announcement about future arrangements will be made in due course.

Council Tax

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any guidance for local authorities in respect of improving council tax collection rates.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Institute of Revenue Rating and Valuation publish a best practice guide on council tax, which sets out good practice in the collection of council tax. In addition to this, the Scottish Executive has commissioned research into council tax collection in Scotland, the results of which are due to be published in early 2006.

Dentistry

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged 60 and over have had a free oral health examination in each NHS board area in 2005.

Lewis Macdonald: None to date. The Executive commitment in relation to free oral health examinations is contained in An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland and is to provide free examinations for those aged 60 or over. This is currently being piloted.

Energy

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity consumed in Scotland has been generated by (a) nuclear energy, (b) renewable energy, (c) natural gas and (d) coal in the last three years.

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much electricity has been generated by (a) nuclear energy, (b) renewable energy, (c) natural gas and (d) coal in the last three years.

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of electricity consumed in Scotland is generated by (a) nuclear energy, (b) renewable energy, (c) natural gas and (d) coal in the last three years.

Allan Wilson: A response to S2W-20962 and S2W-20963 is also provided here. Data on electricity supply and demand in Scotland is collected by the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI). The most current data available are for years 2001-03. Data on electricity consumption and generation by fuel source is not collected centrally.

  Table 1 sets out electricity consumption for Scotland by Terrawatt hours (TWh) between 2001 and 2003. Table 2 presents electricity generation by fuel source, expressed both by TWh and in percentage terms over this three year period.

  Table 1: Electricity Consumption by Terawatt hours (TWh), 2001-03

  

 2001
 2002
 2003


 34.4
 36.6
 35.0



  Table 2: Electricity Generation by Fuel Source Expressed by TWh and as a Percentage, 2001-03

  

 Electricity Generation by Energy Source (TWh)
 Electricity Generation by Fuel Source ( %)


 
 2001
 2002
 2003
 2001
 2002
 2003


 Coal
 15.8
 14.9
 14.6
 32.9
 30.3
 29.8


 Oil
 0.5
 2.2
 2.0
 1.0
 4.5
 4.2


 Gas
 9.9
 11.0
 10.0
 20.6
 22.5
 20.5


 Nuclear
 18.1
 15.9
 18.4
 37.6
 32.4
 37.7


 Renewables
 3.8
 5.1
 3.8
 7.9
 10.4
 7.8


 Total
 48.1
 49.1
 48.8
 100.0
 100.0
 100.0

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures are in place to measure the compliance of pharmaceutical products approved for osteoporosis treatment with Scottish Medicines Consortium decisions.

Mr Andy Kerr: NHSScotland is expected to take account of advice from the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) advice and ensure that recommended drugs or treatments are made available to meet clinical need.

  Any evidence that suggests that NHSScotland was not taking account of the advice would be followed up proactively by the Scottish Executive Health Department.

  Where the SMC considers a new medicine to be unique, NHS boards are required to make it available to patients where clinically indicated. Further information can be found at: http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/mels/hdl2003_60.pdf.

Justice

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the performance of the Lord Advocate’s office is monitored.

Colin Boyd QC: The Lord Advocate is accountable to the Scottish Parliament, along with other Scottish ministers and consistent with the relevant provisions of the Scotland Act 1998. The act makes particular provision at sections 27 and 48 in relation to the Law Officers.

  The Lord Advocate is the head of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) and the department is subject to parliamentary and audit scrutiny in the same way as any other Scottish Executive department. COPFS’s performance is monitored against key targets relating to the processing of cases, and performance against those targets is published on the department’s website on a quarterly basis. The relevant link is http://www.copfs.gov.uk/About/corporate-info/Targets.

  Decisions taken by the Lord Advocate and on his behalf in respect of criminal prosecutions and the investigation of deaths are taken independently of any other person. In that connection he is not subject to the normal rules of collective ministerial responsibility.

Legislation

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in implementing the Partnership Agreement commitment to ask the Scottish Law Commission to investigate methods by which legislation can be published in plain English.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is committed to using plain English wherever possible. In consultation with the Scottish Law Commission, the Office of the Scottish Parliamentary Counsel has prepared a booklet on the use of plain language in legislation which we plan to publish shortly.

Local Government

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown by (a) local authority and (b) activity of the local government efficiency savings, totalling £325 million, identified by the Minister for Finance and Public Service Reform.

Mr Tom McCabe: The local government cash releasing efficiency savings comprise £8 million in police service, £25 million in the supporting people programme, £20 million from invest to save projects, £1.5 million in fire and rescue services and £168.3 million savings from other local government activity. Local authorities are expected to make the outstanding savings principally through procurement savings. It is not possible to break down the £168.3 million savings by activity since it is for local authorities to decide how best to make these savings.

  The £168.3 million efficiency savings deducted at source were not allocated to individual local authorities. The following table gives an estimated efficiency savings figure for each local authority assuming that they would have received their proportionate share of the £168.3 million using their shares of total funding for 2007-08 as a comparator:

  Share of £168.3 Million Efficiency Savings

  


 (£ Million)


 Aberdeen City
 5.883


 Aberdeenshire
 6.932


 Angus
 3.508


 Argyll and Bute
 3.539


 Clackmannanshire
 1.504


 Dumfries and Galloway
 5.053


 Dundee City
 5.106


 East Ayrshire
 3.902


 East Dunbartonshire
 3.075


 East Lothian
 2.749


 East Renfrewshire
 2.788


 Edinburgh, City of
 12.780


 Eilean Siar
 1.930


 Falkirk
 4.586


 Fife
 10.927


 Glasgow City
 22.861


 Highland
 7.884


 Inverclyde
 2.946


 Midlothian
 2.584


 Moray
 2.794


 North Ayrshire
 4.507


 North Lanarkshire
 10.396


 Orkney
 1.160


 Perth and Kinross
 4.187


 Renfrewshire
 5.526


 Scottish Borders
 3.690


 Shetland
 1.588


 South Ayrshire
 3.426


 South Lanarkshire
 9.439


 Stirling
 2.807


 West Dunbartonshire
 3.298


 West Lothian
 4.946


 Scotland
 168.300



  The following table shows the difference in Supporting People allocations between 2003-04 and 2007-08 for each local authority arising from efficiency savings and a fairer distribution of resources across Scotland. The savings will be delivered through reviews of local services, leading to better targeted, more efficient services.

  

 Council
£ Million


 Aberdeen City
- 0.424


 Aberdeenshire
 0.332


 Angus
 0.284


 Argyll and Bute
- 4.376


 Clackmannanshire
 0.758


 Dumfries and Galloway
- 2.711


 Dundee City
 0.383


 East Ayrshire
 1.425


 East Dunbartonshire
- 0.290


 East Lothian
- 1.683


 East Renfrewshire
- 1.124


 Edinburgh, City of
- 8.034


 Eilean Siar
 0.236


 Falkirk
 0.834


 Fife
- 3.771


 Glasgow City
 7.086


 Highland
- 2.163


 Inverclyde
- 0.438


 Midlothian
- 1.090


 Moray
- 1.244


 North Ayrshire
- 2.639


 North Lanarkshire
 1.016


 Orkney Islands
 0.332


 Perth and Kinross
 0.860


 Renfrewshire
- 3.298


 Scottish Borders
- 0.205


 Shetland Islands
 0.138


 South Ayrshire
- 0.197


 South Lanarkshire
- 1.088


 Stirling
 0.849


 West Dunbartonshire
- 5.042


 West Lothian
 0.110


 Scotland
 - 25.174



  £4 million of the police savings have been assumed as part of the settlement for police services and is broken down as follows:

  

 Force
2007-08(£000)


 Central
 183


 Dumfries and Galloway
 111


 Grampian
 356


 Fife
 232


 Lothian and Borders
 713


 Northern
 201


 Strathclyde
 1,900


 Tayside
 304


 Total
 4,000



  The other £4 million of savings has not been built in to their allocation and is for the police to re-invest into services.

  The procurement savings, the fire and rescue service savings and the invest to save savings have not been built into allocations and are for local government and the fire and rescue service to re-invest in services.

Local Government

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will explain its methodology for calculating efficiency savings in local government.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Improvement Service’s report on the development of a robust system for planning, monitoring and reporting local government savings is due to issue very soon. The report will contain a full statement of the methodology used in calculating the savings which will have been made in local government this year.

Mortality

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how mortality rates per 100,000 population from (a) coronary heart disease, (b) stroke, (c) diabetes, (d) cancer, (e) smoking-related illnesses and (f) alcohol-related illnesses in the (i) West Dunbartonshire and (ii) East Dunbartonshire local authority area compare with the Scottish average in each year since 1996

Mr Andy Kerr: The information requested is set out in the following tables:

  (a) Coronary Heart Disease1, Mortality Rate Per 100,000 Population (Not Age Standardized)

  

 
 Scotland
 East Dunbartonshire
 West Dunbartonshire


 1996
 288
 229
 324


 1997
 276
 203
 339


 1998
 264
 189
 287


 1999
 263
 192
 291


 2000
 245
 189
 271


 2001
 235
 167
 266


 2002
 231
 176
 245


 2003
 226
 163
 284


 2004
 212
 154
 241



  Source: 1996-1999, ICD9 codes 410-414, 2000-2004, ICD10 codes I20-I25

  Note: 1. Ischaemic Heart Diseases.

  (b) Stroke1, Mortality Rate Per 100,000 Population (Not Age Standardized)

  

 
 Scotland
 East Dunbartonshire
 West Dunbartonshire


 1996
 140
 86
 120


 1997
 137
 105
 134


 1998
 136
 94
 126


 1999
 134
 101
 139


 2000
 134
 123
 123


 2001
 131
 101
 137


 2002
 133
 114
 114


 2003
 128
 100
 125


 2004
 121
 86
 122



  Source: 1996-1999, ICD9 codes 430-438, 2000-2004, ICD10 codes I60-69.

  Note:1. Cerebrovascular Diseases

  (c) Diabetes1, Mortality Rate Per 100,000 Population (Not Age Standardized)

  

 
 Scotland
 East Dunbartonshire
 West Dunbartonshire


 1996
 10
 7
 16


 1997
 10
 8
 5


 1998
 11
 4
 9


 1999
 13
 7
 11


 2000
 12
 9
 10


 2001
 14
 5
 16


 2002
 13
 13
 16


 2003
 14
 9
 8


 2004
 15
 9
 15



  Source: 1996-1999, ICD9 code 250, 2000-2004, ICD10 codes E10-E14.

  Note: 1. Diabetes Mellitis.

  (d) Cancer1, Mortality Rate Per 100,000 Population (Not Age Standardized)

  

 
 Scotland
 East Dunbartonshire
 West Dunbartonshire


 1996
 298
 261
 325


 1997
 293
 294
 317


 1998
 291
 247
 326


 1999
 292
 245
 329


 2000
 295
 262
 304


 2001
 300
 251
 343


 2002
 298
 276
 296


 2003
 299
 270
 336


 2004
 296
 278
 323



  (e) Smoking-Related Illnesses

  This information is not held centrally.

  (f) Alcohol-Related Illnesses1, Mortality Rate Per 100,000 Population (Not Age Standardized)

  

 
 Scotland
 East Dunbartonshire
 West Dunbartonshire


 1996
 15
 17
 20


 1997
 17
 9
 23


 1998
 18
 15
 19


 1999
 20
 8
 23


 2000
 22
 10
 24


 2001
 24
 17
 28


 2002
 26
 17
 45


 2003
 27
 16
 42


 2004
 26
 17
 40



  Source: 1996-1999, ICD9 codes 291, 303, 305.0, 425.5, 571.0-571.3, 2000-2004, ICD10 codes F10, I42.6, K70.

  Note: 1. Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol, alcoholic cardiomyopathy and alcoholic liver disease.

NHS Boards

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who is currently in overall charge of the management of health services in the NHS Argyll and Clyde area and who is the board’s medical director.

Mr Andy Kerr: On 19 May this year I announced my intention to dissolve NHS Argyll and Clyde and to redraw the boundaries of neighbouring boards to take on responsibility for planning and delivering health care services in the area.

  The Executive has consulted publicly on options for these boundaries and I intend to make an announcement soon. Until the present board is dissolved at the end of March 2006, it remains statutorily responsible for services in its area. In practice, the board is liaising closely with NHS Greater Glasgow and NHS Highland about a range of issues, including any decisions affecting the future provision of services.

  The board’s medical director is Dr Liz Jordan.

NHS Funding

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of grant funding has been awarded under section 16B of the National Health Services (Scotland) Act 1978 and to which organisations in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06.

Mr Andy Kerr: Comprehensive information on all grants made by the Executive to voluntary organisations is available publicly on the Executive’s website. Information for 2004-2005 is to be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Voluntary-Issues/15300/22255

  Information for 2005-2006 is at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Voluntary-Issues/15300/DF0506.

NHS Hospitals

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital mergers have taken place in the last five years; what the projected effects of each merger were on costs, and what actual savings have been achieved in each case in the last relevant financial year.

Mr Andy Kerr: There have been no hospital mergers, although services originally provided in some hospitals have been re-provided elsewhere as part of the continual process of modernising and improving the whole range of services that the NHS provides. Where a board proposes to close a hospital or make major changes to services, it must consult on the proposals and seek ministerial approval.

  It is for each board to arrange the provision of a full range of services to its population within the resources made available to it. Records of the costs and financial benefits of individual board level projects are not maintained centrally.

  Boards make changes to services, including re-provision and merging of services, for quality of service and sustainability reasons as well as for value for money reasons. For example, a board might bring stand-alone maternity services onto an acute hospital site so that there could be immediate access to adult intensive care facilities.

NHS Staff

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Workforce Information Strategic System (SWISS) project has set timescales for implementing (a) phase 3 and (b) phase 4 of the national Workforce Information Repository and, if not, when it expects timescales to be set.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Workforce Information Strategic System (SWISS) Project Board was formed in early 2002. Its initial remit was "to commission a strategic system study with the objective of identifying model(s) which have the potential for addressing future workforce information requirements, taking into account the capabilities, both existing and potential of existing systems."

  Timescales have not yet been set for implementing phases 3 and 4 of the national workforce information repository, but phases 3 and 4 will integrate with the roll out of the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) planned for April 2007. The timescale for phases 3 and 4 is therefore likely to be April 2007.

NHS Staff

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) doctors and (b) nurses have been working in the NHS in each year since 1999, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on doctors and nurses working in the NHS broken down by parliamentary constituency is not available centrally.

  Information on staff in post by NHS board in NHS Scotland is published on the Scottish Health Statistics website under Workforce Statistics, at www.isdscotland.org/workforce.

  Section B gives details of medical staff employed in NHS Scotland. In particular, tables B1 and B2 shows the whole-time equivalent and headcount number of medical staff, for years 1999-2004, broken down by NHS board. Section E gives details of nursing and midwifery staff employed in NHS Scotland. In particular, tables E1 and E2 show the whole-time equivalent and headcount number of nursing and midwifery staff employed, for years 1999-2004, broken down by NHS board.

Nursing

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to facilitate backfill arrangements to support practice nurses in accessing continuing professional development opportunities.

Mr Andy Kerr: The new General Medical Services contract, which advocates a practice based approach, will enable the practice to use resources available to it, both people and money, to deliver services in such a way as to meet the needs of their patients. It allows the practice flexibility to employ the staff they need to ensure that they deliver the services they have committed to provide.

  The Framework for Nursing in General Practice actively supports and encourages practice nurses to engage in learning activities. It encourages NHS boards, working with local practices, to consider the development of practice nurse banks to enable practices nurses to access learning and professional development opportunities.

Nursing

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how many registered practice nurses there are, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: Data on the whole-time equivalent numbers of practice nurses employed by general practices within each NHS board area for each year from 1988-2003 inclusive are published on ISD’s website at: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/info3.jsp?pContentID=2781&p_applic=CCC&p_service=Content.show&

  Since the introduction of the new General Medical Services contract on 1 April 2004, supply of data on practice nurses is no longer mandatory.

Nursing

Dr Jean Turner (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive how many registered practice nurse locums there are, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.

Youth Organisations

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reverse any decline in the numbers of (a) youth clubs and other youth organisations, (b) young people attending youth organisations and (c) voluntary helpers involved in youth organisations.

Robert Brown: Recent research suggests that there may have been an increase in young people attending a youth club or other club. The Being Young in Scotland survey reports an increase in attendance at youth clubs or other clubs from 25% in 2003 to 38% in 2005 with those attending uniformed clubs also showing an increase from 9% in 2003 to 13% in 2005.

  Information on the number of youth clubs and organisations is not held centrally.

  According to the Scottish Household survey, the overall level of volunteering has remained constant at around 24 to 26%.

  The Scottish Executive continues to work in partnership with local authorities, the voluntary sector and national agencies, such as YouthLink Scotland and Young Scot, to continue the development of high quality youth work and youth information. The forthcoming consultation on the National Youth Work Strategy will be an opportunity for young people, and all interested parties, to influence the development of this important area of work.

  The Scottish Executive’s Volunteering Strategy sets out our way forward to embed a robust culture of volunteering across Scotland, including in youth organisations. This includes the provision of resources for Volunteer Development Scotland and the network of volunteer centres to provide advice and support to all volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Parliamentary Staff

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what arrangements are in place to allow security staff who are instructed to take their lunch at 11.30 am to eat at Holyrood, given that the garden level restaurant does not serve meals until 12.00 noon.

John Scott: The lunch service in the Garden Restaurant with effect from 31 May, commenced earlier at 11.30 am. As a consequence, the breakfast service will closes earlier at 10.15 am.